Guard for machine tools



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 INVENTOR 4...., MJMJ'WL;

ATTORNEYS AMO-1 Feb. 23, 1965 J. HENsLEY' GUARD Foa nieuwefrc o1;1-1..-`

Original Filed Jan. 23, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR :azi

ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1965 J. HENSLEY GUARD Foa MACHINE :rooLs Original Filed Jan. 23, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 wao INVENTOR .ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1965 J. L. HENsLEY GUARD FOR MACHINE TOOLS Original Filed Jan. 23, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 LZa INVENTOR m BLM, MJ,- M im.; ATTORNEYS 3,179,352V f GUARDFR MA'CHWETOLS llames LJfl-Iensley, Clinton,` Tenn., assigner, by mesne assignments, to TysarnanglMachineV iCompany, "Ine, Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of Delaware' Y f Original application Jan. 23, 1958,V Ser, No.

and this application Nov. ,6, 1959, Ser. No.` 851,412. Claims. (Cl. 83%168) i i ThisVinventionrelates-tomachinetoolsjandmorerpari ticularly to metal ,working machines equipped with novel i" i guard means forarotatinglblade or wheel.l This applicationis .a divisioni ofmy Vcopendinfg applicanon sonni No. 710,716, ined onginnunry 23, 195s; now

clear understanding'of-this embodiment, persons skilled of the inventionto other types-of machines. t

A frictionsaw isa machine in which s ufcienthcat is generated between `the peripheralface of a rapidly rotating saw Wheel and a metal workpiecerto sever the workpiece along'thepath of ymovement of the wheel.

The advantages of friction saws for heavyproduction @work in the sawing of structural steel .long k have `been recognized. These saws cutvery rapidly, and vthey may be employed Vin the sawing ofmany structuralI shapes. In spi-teef these advantageshowever, theuse'of friction y United States PenfO 71a,7.16,now Patent No. 3,069,950, dated Dec. 25, 1963. .Divided l `Al1though the invention is applicable to' varioustypes of machine tools it will be convenientfto refer specifically in this descriptionto its use in friction saws; With a lsaws has been limited(V The installations available prior to the presentfinvention Were large, expensive ones,`; and

I lmanyiof themiverehazardoustooperate.

One of the problems'encountered in these machines has been the Vprovision of adequate lprotection `for the operating personnel. This factor. isof'A great psychologi- V cal,ras well as functional, importance; becausean |operator cannotubeexpecte'dto workeiectively'with a machine that trightens him. .ltmustbe rememberedin ythis con- Y nection that the Vwheel ofa frictionfsavv rotatesat eX- vtremel'y high speeds,' and that the `wheel moves rapidly 1 through the work being. cut."V In such circumstances; the wheel is subjected to tremendous loads tending toshatter it. When a Wheel does shatter, the piecesily o like bullets inalldirlections. Thcreis vdangeralso `inthe/fact "tion saw 'of unit construction,` whicl 1`will `personnelin the vicinityofthe machine.`

. 2o .in the` art will have no difliculty in applying theprinciples lection thereof.

Vto the cutting zone,

may be observed bythe operator. 35

i FIG. Al;

Y 3,170,352 Patented???- .232.1955

Another `olgjec't Vof this'inventionis to pro'videa fricobviate Athe necessity for remote control,stations- 'i Another object' of uns invention is to provide n 'Curon tool `with means for effectively protecting'the operating Another objectof this'invention is tofprovidea `friction saw, with av wheelguard so locatedwithfrespect to the "cutting wheel and the work as to direct wheel cooling `liquid away from the work'.

'l'fheforegoiiig objects may befaccom'plished according to a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, by provision f of*v a cut -'off tool,A such'as friction saw, having" abase `and a rotating saw blade or Wheelfrnounted or'bodily movementwithin a stationary guard secured to the base.

`The guard' islelongated andit'lias'a relatively srnallslot n therein adjacent the upperfsurfaoe ofthe b asjef the machine through whichH the work mayv be insertedto bring it intothe path of 4rnovenlent ofthe rotating saw Wheel* The guard completely Y enclosfes the blade and affords maximum protection 'toftlie operatori ofv thev machine. lt'alsoservesl to minimize the noise vvemitted during cutting 'runs and to conne arnfstray metal particlesremoved from the Worlcto a limited Zone'so as to facilitatel col- The machine is provided-with 4a control station close This control station includes heavy metal barrier wallsto give the operator adequate protectionV against injury and to minimizethe natural fear ele- Vmentinvolved in vthe operation of such equipment( One wall includes va small window ofdou'ble strength safety glass through which the progress of the' cutting operation A more" complete understanding ofthe invention`"'will be gained from a consideration of `the following detailed Y'descriptionof an'embodiment thereofillustrated inthe 'n accompanying drawings, in which: `f

FIG. 1 is `a perspective vievv` of a friction "saws embodying the present invention;v Y l t end view ofthe friction saw Yshown in FIG. 2 van F1o. s is; n sido elevational View" of van fr'ioaon js'nw,

Vwith the wheel guard and certain" trarne parts 'ibeing thatparticlesfof the workV being cut' tend tobe thrown'ol from the cutting zone with great forcejy Inthe priorV machines,A thel means provided for protecti ing the voperator againstinjury were sofinefiective that, in manyinstances, it wasnecessary"toprovidefor remote fthe linen- 4 'inria broken away;

frneans for the cutting Wheelof the fricticn saw;

t FIG. 6 is`an` exploded perspective view vqficoniponents omittedto revealtheinterior construction;` Y Y FIG. 4 isa vertical cross sectionalfview taken along 3;. certain of the parts being FIG. 5 isa cross `sectional"view" illustrating he` feed "of the wheel guard of the friction'saw; l

control of the machines. 1 The operator of such installation would setup the vmachinefor `a cutting operation,

retreat Vto a4 remote control' station, operate vthemachine fromY the remote 4statiomancl then return to the machine after `the cutting operation yhad'y beenCOmpIeted.' vThis awkward procedureresults in much lost time. `More"" over, the useof the remote cdntrol station Vincreases both the expense of and the space requirements, for an installaftion, and additionally hasj-'an adverse effect 'upon' the "quality of the work performed Y t Another troublesome problemdntlie construction fof cut offmachineshasfbeen the provision vof-means" for velfectively confining the'metalparticles removedt'from the work so that they mightbe collectedconveniently for periodic` removal from the work area,y {The preseneeof Waste lin the work area presents' safetyfproblemsandralso"l lowers the operating efficiency ofthe personnel.

It is an object of this invention to overcome the` objecftions and disadvantages noted above and to provide, a truly safemachinetool whichrnay be operated eiciently lunder service conditions."

F1o. 7is n perspooav view of rhobosefof the friotion-sawyV e t Y FIG.V 8` is aelongitudinal vertical cross sectional jview ofi'the base'of the saw', illustrating a vsupply fof liquid coolant therein; If 1 FIG; V9 is a'detailed VerticalQcr-ss'sectional viewtaken Y Thesmachine includes abase mounted upon thebasefZfare ai transversely 'extending A carriage 14 .is mounted upon therail 12=for movement longitudinally ofathe machine, and a saw.;wl`1eelvv 16`is mountedupo'nfthe carriage 14.V 'Anelectricmotor8for rotating the wheel 16 also is mounted upon the carriage 14 so that both the wheel 16 and its drive motor 18 move along the rail 12 with the carriage 14. Thus, when the wheel 16 is rotated by its motor 18 and the carriage 14 is moved to the left in FIGS. 1 and 3, the periphery of the rotating wheel 16 will be brought into frictional engagement with the work (not illustrated) supported upon the rollers 4 to sever the work.

The saw wheel 16 may be of any of the types used heretofore in friction saws. For example, it may be a simple disc, or it may be a swaged-tooth wheel. A plain disc has been illustrated in the drawings in the interest of clarity and simplicity. However, the swaged-tooth wheel is preferred by many users, because normally, it can be expected to produce less burr during the cutting operation.

A substantially planar configuration of the wheel 16 has been illustrated in the drawings. This is the configuration assumed by the wheel when it is rotating at high speeds. However, under static conditions, the wheel 16 is dished or bowed. As is well known in the art, this construction results in a desirable stress pattern in the wheel and materially enhances its ability to withstand the loads imposed upon it during use.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that the wheel 16 is mounted upon a horizontally extending arbor 20 by conventional clamping members 22 and 24 so that the wheel 16 rotates with the arbor 20. The arbor 20 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings disposed Within a housing 26, and its opposite end portion has fixed thereto a series of pulleys 28 cooperating with a plurality of V-belts 30 extending from pulleys 32 fixed to the drive shaft of the motor 18.

The housing 26 is supported by a pair of slides 34 extending through vertical slots in the main body 36 of the carriage 14. Each of the slides 34 has a centrally located opening 38 in its rear face for receiving a vertically extending adjustment screw 40 by which the vertical distance between the arbor 20 and the overhead rail 12 of the machine may be regulated when desired. Each of the screws 40 cooperates with a nut member 42 xed to the main body 36 of the carriage 14, and the upper end of each of the screws 40 carries a worm wheel 44. The

two worm wheels 44 cooperate with a single worm 46 driven by a small electric motor 48.

When it is desired to raise the arbor 20 relative to the rail 12 of the machine, the motor 48 may be actuated to drive the adjustment screws 40 in a direction such as to move the slides 34 upwardly relative to the main body 36 of the carriage 14. Then, when it is desired to lower the arbor 20, the motor 48 may be reversed to cause both of the nuts 42 to feed downwardly along the screws 40.

As illustrated, the overhead rail 12 of the machine consists of a tubular member 52 and a pair of channels 54 welded to opposite sides of the tubular member 52. The main body 36 of the carriage 14 is spaced from the rail 12 and is supported thereby through groups of rollers 56 carried by laterally projecting frames 58. The rollers 56 contact the top, bottom, and side faces of the channels 54 and serve to constrain the carriage 14 to axial movements along the rail 12. l

A nut 60 is secured rigidly to the upper portion of the main body 36 of the carriage 14. This nut cooperates with a longitudinally extending screw 64 mounted for rotation in suitable bearings supported by the main uprights 8 and 10 of the machine. The right-hand bearing 66 is illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, and the left-hand bearing 68 is illustrated in FIG. 5. The bearing 68 is disposed within a housing 70 xed to the upper end of the upright 8. When the screw 64 is rotated in one direction, the carriage 14 will be moved to the left in FIGS. 1 and 3, and when the screw is reversed, the carriage will be moved to the right in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Also enclosed within the housing 70 is a drive system lfor rotating the screw 68. This system includes a conventional electric motor 72 of a type which will permit reversal of its direction and also will permit regulation of its speed. The drive shaft 73 of the motor 72 is connected to an input shaft 74 of a iiuid coupling 76 by means of a suitable V-belt 78. An output shaft is connected to the opposite side of the uid coupling 76, and the two shafts 74 and 80 are held in alignment by conventional bearing means 82. The output shaft 80 is connected by a chain-and-sprocket coupling 84 to the end of the drive screw 64.

During cutting operations, the rate of advance of the carriage 14 carrying the saw wheel 16 must be carefully regulated. If the carriage is advanced too rapidly, the friction between the periphery of the wheel 16 and the work being cut becomes so large that there is a tendency for the wheel 16 to slow down. In other words, its drive motor 18 becomes overloaded. Should the peripheral speed of the wheel 16 diminish materially however, its heating effect at the cut also will diminish, and the cutting operation cannot proceed eiciently.

The motors 18, 48 and 72 may be controlled from a station at the left end of the machine in FIG. l. This control station is so constructed as to provide complete protection to the operator of the machine and to permit the operator to observe the progress of the cutting operation. It is formed by heavy barrier plates 86 and 88, and a roof 90.

The barrier 88 extends transversely of the machine from the barrier 86 to the lateral edge of the base 2, at a location just beyond the work-positioning abutment 6. It is provided with a small window 92 of double strength safety glass through which the operator. of the machine may observe the work without exposing himself to possible injury.

The back wall of the control station is formed by the barrier plate 86. This wall is rigidly connected to the base 2 of the machine and is spaced forwardly of the adjacent upright 8. A control panel 94 and one or more measuring or indicating instruments 96 may be mounted upon the barrier plate 86 at a convenient level.

The wheel 16 of the friction saw is enclosed within a stationary guard best illustrated in FIG. 6. The top and end walls of the guard are formed by a curved member 97 permanently fixed to a rear wall 98 of the guard. The rear wall 98 is, in turn, secured rigidly to the base 2 of the machine and to the front faces of the uprights 8 and 10. Its length corresponds generally to the distance between the outer extremities of the uprights 8 and 10.

A shorter member 100 forms the main section of the front wall of the guard. It is connected by suitable hinges 102 to the inner edge of the transversely extending barrier plate 88 so that it may be swung open to permit inspection or replacement of the wheel 16. Normally, however, the front wall section 100 of the guard is secured to the top wall 97 thereof by bolts 103 or other suitable fastening means passing through holes 104 in ears 105 and 106 protruding from the adjacent portions of the members 97 and 100, respectively. The movable wall section 100 is of such length that, when the section 100 is open, the wheel 16 will be exposed to view all along the path of movement of the wheel.

The portions of the top wall 97 and the rear wall 98 shown at the left in FIG. 6 extend beyond the end of the front wall 100 into the space between the upright 8 and the barrier plate 86. In this zone, the barrier plate 86 serves as la front wall of the saw wheel passageway, and in this sense, it forms a continuation of the front wall 100 of the guard for the wheel. The lleft end of the wheel-receiving passageway may be closed in any suitable manner. In the drawings, the main closure plate 107 (FIG. 2) for the left end of the machine serves this function.

The rear wall 98 of the guard is provided with an elongated slot 108 to permit passage of the arbor 20 therethrough. Similarly, the front wall member 100 includes a slot 110 which provides clearance for the outer end of The direction of the liquid stream against the peripheral face of the wheel 16, rather than against the sides of the wheel 16, is particularly important. Eflicierlcy in cleaning and cooling can be attained only when very large volurnes of liquid are brought into contact with the working face of the wheel 16, and if the stream of liquid were directed against the sides of the wheel, the resistance to ilow would be so large as to prevent the maintenance of high volume conditions within the liquid stream.

Referring particularly to FIG. 9, it will be seen that the replaceable liner 156 in the duct 146 has sloping sides and that its upper ends are disposed in contact with the top wall 152 of the duct 146 at points spaced laterally from the slot 154 in the top wall 152. The sloping sides of the liner 156 are advantageous in that they tend to confine the liquid in the channel to the surfaces of the wheel 16 so that the cooling action produced by the liquid is enhanced materially. There is a tendency for the liquid to move upwardly along the sloping sides of the liner 156. This tendency is rendered harmless, however, by the overhanging lips 168 formed by the portions of the top wall 152 which extend horizontally from the upper edges of the liner 156 toward the path of the wheel 16. Nearly all of the liquid is deflected downwardly and inwardly by these lips 168, so that very little of it escapes through the slot 154, and so that it is returned to the surface of the wheel 16.

The discharge end of the duct 146 is open. It communicates with an opening 170 in the vertical wall 136 which separates the main reservoir 124 from the settling tank 126. The liquid coolant and particles of metal thrown off from the wheel 16 pass through the opening 170 into contact with an inclined baille 172 iixed rigidly to a lid or closure 174 on the settling tank 126. The lid 174 is provided with a suitable handle 176, and it is connected to the end wall of the settling tank 126 by means of hinges 178. This arrangement permits the lid 174 to be swung open when desired, to allow access to the interior of the settling tank 126, and to facilitate replacement of the baille 172 should the baille become worn during use by reason of the repeated impacts thereagainst of small particles of metal carried along at high velocities by the stream of liquid coolant.

The metal particles 179 have substantially greater densities than the liquid, so that these particles tend to collect at the bottom of the settling tank 126. The liquid level rises unil it reaches one or more openings 180 in the vertical wall 136 separating the main reservoir 124 from the settling tank 126. Then the liquid is free to move Vthrough the openings 180 into the main reservoir 124.

A better understanding of the complete liquid cooling system can be gained from a consideration of the llow diagram in FIG. of the drawings. In this view, it is contemplated that the saw is acting upon a workpiece W in the shape of an I-beam. The reference characters employed in FIG. 10 include the letter a preceded by numerals which correspond to the reference numerals applied in other views to structural components which carry out the functions suggested in FIG. 10.

The saw wheel 16a rotates rapidly in a counterclockwise direction. The friction generated between the peripheral face of the wheeel 16a and the work W is suliicient to heat the work to a red heat. When the work W is softened in this maner at the point of contact with the wheel 16a, the wheel pulls out particles of the softened material very rapidly and the depth of the cut progressively increases.

The extremely high speed of the cutting wheel 16a causes a film or skin of air to move with the wheel. However, as the wheel 16a enters the cut, the work W itself becomes a very close fitting baille blocking further movement of the adhering air film. Immediately after the periphery of the wheel 16a emerges from the bottom of the work W, it passes into the narrow slot in the upper end of the duct 146m, which, as explained above, is as i narrow` as the dished shape of the wheel 16a will permit.

liquid not only cools the periphery of the wheel 16a but also removes metal particles from it.

After contacting the wheel 16a, nearly all of the liquid continues to move along the duct 146:1, carrying with it the particles of metal removed from the wheel 16a. At the discharge end of the duct 146:1, the stream of liquid and metal particles strikes the inclined baille 172a in the settling tank 124:1 and is deflected downwardly into the main body of the settling tank. The metal particles gravitate to the bottom of the tank 124er, and clear liquid rises to the level of the openings :1 through which it moves back to the main reservoir 124e to be again circulated by the pump 164a.

Any stray metal particles that do not find their Way into the liquid stream Will be retained within the stationary guard structure for periodic collection and removal.

Since the liquid content is applied to the wheel 16a beneath the work W, there is very little chance that any of the liquid will be carried completely around the circumference of the wheel 16a to the top of the work W being cut. Small amounts of liquid do adhere to the wheel 16a, but these are thrown olli` by centrifugal force prior to contact of the Wheel 16a with the work W.

In this connection, it will be observed that the top and end walls 97a and 16711 of the wheel guard extend well to the left of the work-receiving opening in the rear wall 98a of the guard. Hence, the small amounts of liquid thrown from the wheel 16a against the inside walls of the wheel guard are carried out and down at a location which is remote from the work W being cut. The work W is substantially free from contact with the liquid cooling medium, and the cooling of the wheel 16a in no way interferes with the heating of the Work W.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, various modications and alterations Will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that the foregoing description be considered as exemplary only, and that the scope of this invention be ascertained from the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a cut oft tool having a base, an arbor mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis disposed above said base, a cutting wheel on one end of said arbor, means for rotating said wheel about said axis, means for moving the rotating .wheel bodily along a horizontal path at right angles to its axis of rotation, and means for positioning work to be cut on the top of said base in the path of said wheel, the improvement which comprises a stationary wheel guard including a rear wall extending upwardly from said base on one side of the path of said wheel and having an elongated slot therein for receiving said arbor, a front wall extending upwardly from said base on the opposite side of said wheel, said front and rear walls being provided with aligned openings therein through which the work to be cut may extend across the path of the wheel, a top wall extending between said front and rear walls above said wheel, and end walls extending between said front and rear walls at points spaced from the ends of the path of said wheel a substantial distance to form enclosed areas remote from the workpiece holding area to receive any foreign matter thrown from the cutting wheel.

2. In a cut off tool having a base, an arbor mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis disposed above said base, a cutting wheel on one end of said arbor, means for 9 rotating said wheel about said axis, means 'for moving the rotating wheel bodily along a horizontal path-at right angles to its axis of rotation, ,and means for positioning work to be cut on the top of said base in the path of said wheel, vthe improvement which comprises astationary wheel guard including a rear wall extending upwardly from said base on `one side of thepath of said wheel and having an elongated slot therein for receiving said arbor, a front wall extending upwardly from said base von the opposite side of 'said wheel and including a pivotally mounted section which may be swung away from said rear wallto permit'inspection and replacement of said.

wheel, saidfront andrear walls being provided with :aligned openings `therein through which the work to be out away may extend across the path Vof the wheel, a top wall extending between said'front and rearwalls above said' wheel, end wa'llsextending betweensaid'front and rear walls at points spaced a substantial distance from the ends of the path of said wheel, and means for releasably securing the pivoted section of saidfront wall to at least one of the other of said walls.

3. In a cut olf tool having a base, a cutting Wheel mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis disposed above said base, means for rotating said wheel about said axis, means for moving the rotating wheel bodily along a horizontal path at right angles to its axis of rotation, and means for positioning work to be cut on the top of said base in the path of said wheel, the improvement which comprises an elongated wheel guard stationary with respect to said base and completely enclosing the path of said wheel except at the location of the work to be cut, a transverse barrier wall extending upwardly from the base near the work and extending forwardly from said guard, and a window in said barrier wall through which the progress of the cutting operation may be viewed by an operator located behind the barrier wall.

4. In combination with a friction saw having a cutting wheel movable in a horizontal cutting path, the improvement comprising a stationary cutting Wheel guard having a pair of spaced vertical side walls, a pair of end walls, and a top wall to enclose the cutting Wheel, each of said side walls having an elongated, horizontal slot the length of the cutting stroke of the cutting wheel, said side walls extending substantially beyond the end of the forward stroke of the cutting wheel to form a completely enclosed area remote from the workpiece cutting area to receive any foreign matter which may be discharged from the cutting wheel during the cutting operation.

5. In a friction saw having a work support and a cutting wheel movable in a substantially horizontal path transversely of the work support, the improvement comprising a stationary -cutting Wheel guard having a pair of spaced vertical side walls on opposite sides of the cutting wheel and end and top walls, each of the side walls having an opening therein in horizontal alignment with the work support for passage of the work therethrough, and a barrier wall extending upwardly beside the work support, said barrier wall extending outwardly from the wheel guard approximately at right angles to the adjacent side wall thereof. i

6. In a friction saw having a work support and a cutting wheel movable in a substantially horizontal path transversely of the work support, the improvement comprising a stationary cutting wheel guard having a pair of spaced vertical side walls on opposite sides of the cutting wheel and end and top walls, each of the side walls having an opening therein in horizontal alignment with the work support for passage of the work therethrough, and a barrier wall extending laterally from one of the side walls in a direction opposite from the travel path of the cutting Wheel and approximately at right angles to said one side wall.

7. In a friction saw having a work support and a cutting wheel movable in a substantially horizontal path transversely of the work support, the improvement com- Y of spaced vertical side walls on opposite sides of the cutprising a stationaryfcutting wheel guard having a pair ting wheel and end and top walls, each of the side walls having anopening therein in horizontal alignment with kthe rwork supportV for passage of the work therethrough,

and a barrier wallextending. laterally from one of the side walls in a direction opposite from the travel path therein in Vposition for observing the work on the work support. Y i f 8. A high-speed rotary friction saw comprising va base having therein a liquid reservoir for holding liquid cools ing medium for the friction saw, `an upright support mounted upon thev hase, a `saw Wheel mounted on theY upright support for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis located above thebase and for movementback and forth along the base, means for rotating the saw wheel at high speed, a work support mounted at the top of the base with a slot therein' for passage of the saw wheel through the slot and through a workpiece mounted on the support during said movements of the saw wheel, means for withdrawing liquid cooling medium from the reservoir and directing said cooling medium onto the surface of said saw wheel during sawing operation without cooling the workpiece, means for directing the liquid cooling medium from said wheel back to the `reservoir, and stationary guard means extending upprovided with a transverse opening therethrough at the work supportr for receiving the workpiece during the cutting operation.

9. A high-speed rotary friction saw comprising a base having therein a liquid reservoir for holding liquid cooling medium for the friction saw, Van upright support mounted upon the base, a saw wheel mounted on the upright support for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis located above the base and for movement back and forth along the base, means for rotating the saw wheel at high speed, a work support mounted at the top of the base with a slot therein for passage of the saw wheel through the slot and through a workpiece mounted on the support during said movements of the saw wheel, means for withdrawing liquid cooling medium from the reservoir and directing said cooling medium onto the surface of said saw wheel during sawing operation without cooling the workpiece, means for directing the liquid cooling medium from said wheelback to the reservoir, and stationary guard means extending upwardly from the base on opposite sides of the path of movement of the saw wheel, said guard means being provided with a transv verse opening therethrough at the Work support for receiving the workpiece during the cutting operation, said guard means having opposite sides extending from the work support in the opposite direction from the friction saw a suicient distance to cause the cooling medium to be discharged within the guard means between the Work support and the outer end of the guard means.

10. A high-speed rotary friction saw comprising a base having therein a liquid reservoir for holding liquid cooling medium for the Vfriction saw, an upright support mounted upon the base, a saw wheelv mounted on theV upright support for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis located above the base and for movement back and forth along the base, means for rotating the saw wheel at high speed, a work support mounted at the top of the base with a slot therein for passage of the saw wheel through the slot and through a workpiece mounted on the support during said movements of the saw wheel, means for withdrawing liquid cooling medium from the reservoir and directing said cooling medium onto the surface of said saw wheel during sawing operation without cooling the workpiece, and stationary guard means extending upwardly from the base and inciuding side walls spaced on opposite sides of the path of movement of the saw wheel, said side walls having a transverse opening therethrough at the work support for receiving the Workpiece during the cutting operation, said side Walls extending outwardly from the work support a substantial distance and having a closing end wall spaced appreciably away from the work support forming therebetween an area within the guard means into which the liquid cooling medium is discharged from the saw wheel by centrifugal force during the high speed operation of said wheel, and means for directing the liquid cooling medium from said arca in the guard means back to the reservoir.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 992,490 Fergusson May 16, 1911 12 Johnson Aug. 5, Dempsey Jan. 10, Spiller July 11, Mikshel Ian. 2, Sloan Feb. 27, Williams Nov. 12, Dittmar Mar. 3, Kelley Aug. 10, Hawkins June 15, Wiken et al. Dec. 24, Mueller May 9, vHughart Feb. 5,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Apr. 30, Switzerland Jan. 15, 

1. IN A CUT OFF TOOL HAVING A BASE, AN ARBOR MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID BASE, A CUTTING WHEEL ON ONE END OF SAID ARBOR, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID WHEEL ABOUT SAID AXIS, MEANS FOR MOVING THE ROTATING WHEEL BODILY ALONG A HORIZONTAL PATH AT RIGHT ANGLES TO ITS AXIS OF ROTATION, AND MEANS FOR POSITIONING WORK TO BE CUT ON THE TOP OF SAID BASE IN THE PATH OF SAID WHEEL, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A STATIONARY WHEEL GUARD INCLUDING A REAR WALL EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE ON ONE SIDE OF THE PATH OF SAID WHEEL AND HAVING AN ELONGATED SLOT THEREIN FOR RECEIVING SAID ARBOR, A FRONT WALL EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE ON THE 